5 Yoga Moves That Strengthen Your Body for Birth

Yoga for Labor

Yoga for Labor

How Yoga Prepares You For Labor: Prenatal yoga addresses the physical challenges inherent to pregnancy, such as a shifted center of gravity and lower back pain. These moves will help alleviate aches and build strength in your legs, back and abdominals to prepare you for giving birth. Yoga also can ease labor and delivery, with moves that relax the hip muscles and use gravity to your advantage. Consider yoga a way to get physically stronger and emotionally healthier during pregnancy. Even if you've never done yoga before, the modified moves taught in prenatal yoga are both safe and beneficial to expectant moms. Plus, women with difficult pregnancies may find comfort in yoga's gentle motions and breathing.

Fitness Buffs: You will find that yoga rivals any other workout in keeping the body toned and flexible, and can be done up to delivery.

3. Supported Squat

3. Supported Squat

Stand with your feet wider than hips, with a stack of pillows on the floor behind you. Bend your knees to lower your hips into a deep squat, sitting on the pillows, palms together at your heart center.

Breathe: Close your eyes and breathe deeply through your nose as you relax your pelvic floor (the muscles surrounding the vagina). Hold for 10 full breaths, then go onto hands and knees for the next move. This move is a great preparation for birth.

Note: This pose is not recommended if you are experiencing any signs of premature labor.

While you're in labor, you can rely on ujai pranayama, an ancient breathing technique, to help you relax through contractions. Here's how to do it: Keeping your jaw and face relaxed and eyes closed, place the top of your tongue on the roof of your mouth, and hands on your belly. Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose and imagine drawing the breath into the crown of your head and the deepest part of your belly. Then exhale through your nose, drawing the belly in to empty all the air out.